Season’s Greetings from Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County, here in southwest Colorado!
Our 2023 build season is winding down weeks before Christmas. We closed on House 31 this week with Daniel and Ashley. Cody and Kahryssa will move in next door in mid-January. The third, Kim, at 77 Ranger Park, will close toward the end of January 2024.
Construction is complete on Sam Houston Ave., but paperwork is pending. House 33 is still getting some finishing touches. We’re anticipating CO (Certificate of Occupancy from the local building department) by January 15, 2024.
Next year we’re building right around the corner on Domicile Circle. We’ve already got construction financing secured and soil tests completed for engineered foundations. We’ve got surveys, PILCs, and most importantly, we’ve got families selected.
Next year we’re partnering with an elementary school teacher, Tiffany, and her two children. Vince and Carissa will move forward with us after narrowly missing the opportunity in 2023.
The last time I met with our third family, Lamont and Jillian, to discuss mortgage financing, Jillian lamented her crash course strategy to potty training their two-year-old whilst pregnant with their second child, due in spring!
Habitat will partner again in 2024 with Karsten, a modular home builder out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We just got word this morning that we’re invited to apply for our second AmeriCorps NCCC crew—this time partnering with the Town of Pagosa Springs instead of the local food pantry to share the team’s hours.
We are seeking lodging for the AmeriCorps crew for six weeks next summer. Last year they stayed on cots at Restoration Fellowship in an empty classroom and cooked in the community kitchen there. Showers and laundry were off-site in 2023. If you’re a member of a local church or organization, please pass this along so we can find another community partner to help us bring this team to Archuleta County.
As you can see, things are rolling forward in 2024 as we’re buttoning up our 2023 projects. We hope you’ll join us again next summer and see all the progress we’ve made.
Thank you so much for your contribution to our 15 Homes in 5 Years, and Happy Holidays!
It’s not too late to contribute!
We’re already looking for volunteers for the 2024 build season and booking weekends for groups of 4-6. If interested, email our new Volunteer Coordinator, Monica, at office@habitatarchuleta.org. You can also call our office at 970-264-6960.
We’re still accepting donations! You can donate monetarily via PayPal on our website, www.habitatarchuleta.org, or text “Archuleta” to 844-844-6844.
You can also join our campaign to raise $1,000 by the end of the year by visiting our Colorado Gives page here.
As always, head to our office to donate with cash or check, or swing by to chat with the staff!
Leah Ballard is Homeowner Services Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County.